Magazine Contracts and Permissions

Theodore Sturgeon called THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER "the second best reference book a writer can have,after the dictionary." Harlan Ellison said, "It may not make you a better writer, but it will keep you from being a poorer one." Isaac Asimov said, "Read [this book]. It will tell you everything clearly and interrestingly."

Published in 1982, before the widespread use of personal computers, the Internet, and electronic publishing, the book concentrated on writing and selling to the print media--books and magazines. Updated excerpts are now being reprinted on various topics--still focused on those primary areas, but still applicable to the current-day writer.

This excerpt discusses terms you're likely to encounter in magazine contracts, and how to write permission letters when your work is reprinted in new markets.